Separable slide fastener



June 20, 1950 L. J. LuKAs Er AL 2,511,926

SEPARABLE SLIDE FASTENER Filed April 4, 1949 /5 7 Z55/l Qf/2\\\ /0 20 A59/5f g /a l/2 w -y af a@ X iwweg;

Patented June 20, 1950 SEPARABLE SLIDE FASTENER Leonard J. Lukas and Theodore D. Fine, St. Paul, Minn.

Application April 4, 1949, Serial No. 85-,318

3 claims. (c1. 24-2'o5.11

This invention relates to a slide fastener having a pair of stringers carrying a multiplicity of coupling links adapted to be coupled and uncoupled by means of a slider and particularly to slide fasteners having separable stringers and end coupling members adapted to facilitate the starting of the links through the slider in correct relative positions.

It is an object of our invention to provide novel slide fastener construction whichI facilitates the starting of the separable stringers and links through the slider and guards against both incorrect manipulation of the separable members and the likelihood of catching the adjacent clothing or fabric in the coupling members and slider.

A particular object is'to provide a novel slider and coacting stringer end coupling member which constitutes a convenient, combined handle and guide adapted to project above and below the slider when in the starting position and the slider being formed with an auxiliary channel adapted to receive the end coupling member and to coact therewith in facilitating both the starting of the stringer into the slider in proper relation to the second or oppositely disposed stringer and initial movement' of the slider along the stringers.

Heretofore, ordinary slide fasteners of the separable type have required a relatively high degree of skill to start the end coupling members in proper operative relation to the sliders, not only because of the small size of the parts which must be inter-engaged, but also `because the shape and locations of the conventional parts which must be grasped are such as to make the required manipulation difcult for many adults as well as children. By the present invention we substantially overcome such difficulties and provide coupling members which are easy to manipulate while avoiding entanglement of the adjacent fabric in the fastener members.

Other objects will appear and be more fully pointed out in the following specification and claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates, by way of example and not for the I 2 lower end portion of a stringer carrying our improved starter-and guide members;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view through the slider taken in a plane parallel to the front face of the slider;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals 'l and 8 indicate the stringer members of a pair which carry a multiplicity of coupling links 9 adapted to be inter-engaged to join the members 1 and 8 together. As shown, the stringer members and coupling links are of conventional construction, eachl of the stringer members having a roll edge I0 uponwhich the links 9 are fastened in uniformly spaced relation one to another. The stringer, members 1 and 8 extend along opposite margins I I of a garment for the usual purpose of closing anopening in the garment.

A slider indicated generally by the numeral I2 is formed with upwardly diverging channels I3 and I4 which merge into a common vertically extending channel I5 adapted to slidably receive the inner marginal portions of the stringers 'I and 8,V including the coupling links 9 and to guide them to and from their inter-engaging positions as the slide is moved along the stringers in the usual manner. At one side of the channels I3 and I4 the slider I2 is formed with an auxiliary channel I6 adapted to slidably receive and fit a guide memberhereinafter described. Pivotally connected to the front wall of the slider lf2 is a' handle I'I adapted to be grasped to facilitate the operation of the slider.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the lower end portion of the stringer 8 has xed thereon a startery member I8 and integral therewith is an elongated guide member I9 which is formed to project in laterally spaced relation to the member I8 from the upper and lower ends thereof. The member I9 may be of substantially circular cross sectional shape and is adapted to slidably fit in and pass through the channel I6 in the slider I2. The normally lower end I9a of the member I9 projects below the stringer 8 and the upper end portion I9b` of this member projects above the upper edgeof the member I8. The member I9 is longitudinally curved on a gradual arc corresponding to that of the channel I6 in the slider I2. Projecting from the lower edge of the member I8 is atooth I8a.

To coact with `the starter member I8 carried br @he logeren@ QI; fina Stringer. .tetris Suisse? .l

2,511,926 ily-.a1

has xed on its lower end a stop member 20 which is of the common type having a closed lower end, vertically slotted side edges and an integral upwardly projecting bead 2I adapted to project into the channel I5 of the slider I2. As shown in Fig. 6, the stop member 20 is also formed with an upwardly and laterally open channel adapted to slidablyreceive the lower end portion of the starter member I8 and a recess 20a. at the lower end of the "channel is adapted to receive the tooth I8a projecting downwardly to retain the members I8 and I9 against lateral separation from the member 2U when in engagement'therewith.

In operation, in order to separate the Stringerv 8 from the stringer 1, assuming that these members are coupled together with the several fas,- tening members in positions indicated in Fig. 1, the handle I'I is grasped with the fingers of one hand and the slider is moved downward until its lower edge makes contact withthe stop member 2U. This uncouples the links 9 throughout the length of the stringers 'I and 8, causes the guide member I9 to pass into and project above the slider, as indicated in broken lines' in Fig. l, and allows the stringer 8 to be separated from the Stringer 'I merely by drawing the stringer 8 carrying the-guide member I9 andy starter member I8 out of the upper ends of the channels I4 and I6.

To couple the stringers together, the slider I2 is placed in contact with the stopv memberl 2i) and then the operator, while grasping the upper end portion of the guide member I9, inserts the lower end IQa thereof in the clearly visible channel I8 and thrusts thisgguide member together with the member I8 and Stringer 8 downward through the slider channelsl until the member I8 actuates the stop member 28 carrying the stringer 'I downward relative'to the slider member which may be held in the other hand against relative movement. Thiscouples the lower pairs of links Bin inter-engaging relation one with another and insures correct relative positioning of these links. ward along the stringer members to the desired position in the usual manner.

Our improved fastener has a number of advantages as comparedwith ordinary slide fasteners. Among these advantages is the facility with which the initial coupling Vofthe separable stringers maybe accomplished. The upper end porti-on Iilblv ofthe guide member I9 affords a handle of convenient size for directingv the lower end ISa into the auxiliary channel I6 of the slider. Since this'rigid member I9 vprojects both above and below the starter member I8 it aiords readily accessible means for properly guiding and inserting Vthe member IB intheA slider' channel ``Illand connecting channel in the stop lmember 20.' Being located at one side of the starter, the member I9 is readilyvisible and may be manipulated correctly and easily by young children and'other's who ordinarily have difficulty in properly starting the slide.

Our invention has the furtherV advantage of guarding against the forcing of adjacent fabrics between the coupling members or into the slider channels during the coupling operation. The guide member I9 projects along the row of links 9 and below the lower end of the Stringer 8 and operates to deflect 'the adjacent fabric free 'and clear of the path of the Vcoupling members las the latter are passed into the slider channels. vBy reason of its unusualwidth'and wedge shape,

thev slider I2r alsohas aitendency-todeflect adi Thereafter the slider may be moved up'- i 4 jacent fabrics away from the links 9 and slider channels when moved along the stringers 1 and 8. Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: l. In a slide fastener having a pair of stringers and coupling members carried by said stringers adapted to be inter-engaged one with another for fastening lsaid stringers together, the improvementswhicheomprisa-a sliderformed with main channels adapted to slidably receive and guide said coupling members to and from inter-engaging relation one with another, said slider being formed with an auxiliary channel extending along and at one side o f said main channels, a starter member carried by an end of one of said stringers,

Aan end stop member carried by the other Stringer,

said starter and stop members being formed to be inter-engaged to connect the ends 0f said stringerstogether and an elongated guide member operatively connected to said starter member, extending at one sidepthereof and formed to slidably t in said auxiliary channel, said guide member projecting above and vbelow said slider when said slider andstarter member are in engagement with said stop member.

2. In a slide fastener having a pair of stringers and couplingmembers carried by lsaid stringers adapted to be inter-engaged for fastening said stringers together, the improvements which comprise, a sliderformed'withmainchannels adapted to slidably receive and guide said coupling members to and from inter-engaging relation one with another, said slider being formed with an auxiliary, longitudinally curved channel extending along and'at one side of said main channels, a starter member carried by an end portion of one of said stringers, an end'stop member carried by an end portion of' the other Stringer, said starter and stop members'being formed to be inter-engaged to couple the ends of-said stringers together and a longitudinally curvediguide pin operatively conected to said-.startermember, extending at one side thereof and formed to slidably ht in said auxiliary channeLusaid guide pin projecting above and below said slider :when said slider and starter member are in engagement withy said stop member f 3. In avslid'e-` fastener having a pair of stringers and couplingmembers carried by said stringers adapted Y'to be interengaged for coupling said stringers together, the yimprovements which com. prise,` a sliderfformed with main channels adapted to slidably receive and guide said'coupling mem. bers rto and from inter-engaging relation one with' another, saidslider' being -formed' with an auxiliary channelr extending' along and at one sideof said mam channels, a starter member carried by an end portion-of one of said stringers, an end stop' member carried by the end'portion of the other Stringer, `said starter member having a tooth projecting :therefrom for engagement with said stop member tocouple the" end portions of said stringers together and an elongated guide member rigid-ly connected'to said 'starter member, projecting fromthe Vfront and back faces ofthe Stringer atene-.side of said starter Imember and formed to slidably t in said auxiliary channel, said guide' memberproecting above and below said :slider lwhen-said slider andstarter member are vin f engagement with sa-id .stop member.

i LI,iii'oNARn lJ. LUKAs'.' 1 y. TEEODOYE D' FIN@ -VNo referencesvcited. l 0 

